2008-07-26 14:07:48 -

www.integratelecom.com/ - Integra Telecom Inc., a facilities-based, integrated communications carrier for business, released the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to deny Qwest Corporation's petition for forbearance:

"Integra Telecom applauds the FCC's decision to deny Qwest Corporation's petition for forbearance," said Dudley Slater, CEO of Integra Telecom Inc. "The commission rightly concluded that the incumbent's petition was unwarranted, unproven, and would harm consumers and the competitive marketplace."

John Nee, vice president of corporate communications for Integra Telecom and Integra's assistant general counsel, Russ Merbeth, are available for comment on the FCC's ruling.

About Integra Telecom

Integra Telecom Inc. provides voice, data and Internet communications to thousands of business and carrier customers in

11 Western states, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The company owns and operates a best-in-class fiber-optic network comprising metropolitan access networks, a nationally acclaimed tier one Internet and data network, and a 4,700-mile high-speed long haul network. The company has earned some of the highest customer loyalty and customer satisfaction ratings in the telecommunications industry. Primary equity investors in the company include Warburg Pincus, Banc of America Capital Investors and Boston Ventures. Integra Telecom, Electric Lightwave, Eschelon Telecom, Unicom and OneEighty Communications are registered trademarks of Integra Telecom Inc. For more information, visit www.integratelecom.com.

Integra Telecom Inc.
John Nee, 503-453-8084
john.nee@integratelecom.com
or
Nicole Tricas, 503-546-7892
nicole@lanepr.com